Embezzlement in E&T dept continues

LAHORE -An Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) has unearthed corruption in the department and invited Director General Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) to investigate huge corruption being committed under the head of payment of Token Tax in the department, documents available with The Nation revealed on Monday. ETO further said in his letter that after probing into the corruption he brought the matter into the notice of higher authorities of E&T department verbally as well as in written form. But on account of being under influence of the accused they have done nothing in this regard and the embezzlement in the government revenue is still continuing. ETO also mentioned two registration numbers of vehicles in his letter as precedent, token tax and registration fee of which were embezzled including LZJ-6092 and LZJ-6093. The situation turned interesting when an inquiry was initiated against ETO Azhar Tariq alias Ajji and a charge sheet was issued against him. The charge sheet spoke, Azhar Tariq, ETO (OPS)/MRA (TIE-UP), Region-C. Lahore "While posted as Motor Registering Authority (Tie-Up) Lahore, he failed to perform his efficient supervisory role. There were a number of complaints against his subordinate Motor Branch staff especially against Zaka-ur-Rehman, AETO and Muhammad Abdullah E&T Inspector, who embezzled Government revenue to the tune of Rs.3,29,940 by wrongly assessing 15-Motor vehicles in respect of Token Tax, Alteration/ Conversion Fee and Form-F MV Passing Fee". "He, being incharge, never bothered to keep check and balance on his subordinate staff and did not take action against the delinquents. The act of staff has not only caused heavy loss to the Government exchequer but also damaged reputation of the Department". The charge sheet further said, "Hence, he has been found of guilty of inefficiency and misconduct". Zaka-Ur-Rehman, AETO Motor Branch, Region-C. Lahore "While posted as AETO, Motor Branch (Region-C) Lahore, he embezzled Rs.3,29,940 in connivance with Muhammad Abdullah, E&T Inspector by wrongly assessing 15-Motor vehicles in respect of Token Tax, Alteration/ Conversion Fee and Form-F MV Passing Fee". "His act has not only caused heavy loss to the Government exchequer but also damaged reputation of the Department". "Thus, he has been found of guilty of corruption, misconduct and mis-appropriation of Government revenue". Similarly Abdullah, E& T Inspector Motor Branch Region C, Lahore "While posted as E& T Inspector, Motor Branch (Region-C Muhammad) Lahore, he embezzled Rs.3,29,940 in connivance with Zaka-ur- Rehman, AETO by wrongly assessing 15-Motor vehicles in respect of Token Tax, Alteration/ Conversion Fee and Form-F MV Passing Fee". "His act has not only caused heavy loss to the Government exchequer but also damaged reputation of the Department". "Thus, he has been found of guilty of corruption, misconduct and mis-appropriation of Government revenue". After issuance of charge sheet competent authority issued notice to the accused and asked him to produce his defense. The Azhar ETO instead of producing his defense wrote a letter to different authorities and demanded record the 15 vehicles in question. He claimed that so called charge sheet was prepared by Chaudary Muhammad Sohail Arshad Gujjar, Director Excise and Taxation (Enforcement & Audit) Punjab after taking huge illegal gratification/ bribe and speed money from stealers, smugglers of vehicles and motor public agents. Excise and Taxation Officer Muhammad Azam Khan said that inquiry was initiated by competent authority and it was supposed to be finalised within 60 days. He further said that if accused did not reply on time, action could be taken against him under Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act 2006. When contacted, Azhar Tariq said that it was his fundamental right to expose corruption in the department.